New York Regional Interconnect sent letters to U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer, explaining how its proposed power line project would be beneficial to the whole state, especially upstate.  In the letter, NYRI claims upstate communities would benefit financially from the proposed project.

NYRI officials say the project would not be financed with taxpayer dollars.  In fact, NYRI's $1.6 billion project would create hundreds of jobs.  There would also be $37 million of direct payments made to land owners for the purchase of the right aways. 

NYRI says it will contribute $30 million in local property taxes to the surrounding communities.

Mike Steiger is the Executive Director of the Upstate Citizens Alliance.  He doesn't believe anything NYRI has put forth, especially the latest letter to Senators Clinton and Schumer.

"Most people are going to look at these figures and say, 'That's an awful lot of money,'" says Steiger.  "But I think these senators are going to see this as a lot of bologna."

On the state level, Governor Spitzer's office said it will not talk with NYRI until it sees a report.